Release stocks or face punitive action, Govt. warns millers

The Government has warned four major rice millers, providers of the country’s major requirements, to put out their rice stocks or face punitive action.

The Sunday Times learns that the warnings have gone to the popular brands of ' Araliya ' , ' Nipuna', New Ratna' and 'Lathkandura.'

The move comes hard on the heels of the Government imposing enhanced import taxes, prompting price increases in dhal, tin fish, sugar, red onions, potatoes, garlic and dried chillies, among 26 items.

The taxes came into effect on Friday.

The Consumer Affairs Authority has received complaints that these millers were hoarding large stocks of different varieties of samba rice.

This was after sales had dropped with the closure of hotels and restaurants. They were urging dealers to pay for Samba rice to provide them with Red Kekulu and Naadu rice.

“We have already given them a serious warning not to impose conditions and thus create a shortage in the market,” CAA chief Major General (retd.) Shantha Dissanayake told the Sunday Times on Friday.

Though paddy milling is an essential service, he said, “despite our warnings, they seem to be continuing with the practice.”

The latest war ning comes as the Sri Lanka Army stepped up its purchases of paddy stocks from small scale producers to supplement existing stocks. The Army’s Agriculture Director, Brigadier Indrajith Kandanarachchi told the

Sunday Times, “We are providing logistical support to t he Pa d dy Marketing Board. We have so far been able to help them with 25,000 metric tonnes of rice.”

He said the role of the Army came on a directive from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to ensure there is no hoarding and rice stocks were readily available to the people.

The CAA chief, Maj. Gen. Dissanayake said there had been a successful Maha harvest and there was no cause for fear of any shortage. He appealed to both wholesale and retail agents to complain to the Authority about millers who were placing conditions so they may act against them immediately. He added that millers were holding large stocks of different varieties of Samba. Some were being sold at higher prices.